Kudos: South Lake Tahoe man in end-stage hospice pays it forward

Kindness, gratitude, and thankfulness from one person can make all the difference to so many. On Saturday, an exceptional and extraordinary example of this was such a gesture.

Let me introduce you to Daniel. Daniel is in Hospice Care with end-stage COPD. He lives simply in an apartment in South Lake Tahoe. Daniel has been in Tahoe for a long time, working as a chef and cook primarily in various restaurants in town, some of which have come and are now long gone. His mother lived in the same apartment complex as Daniel before she passed. Daniel shared that he did not take great care of himself personally and he is now on oxygen and facing the end of his life.

Tahoe Magic is a non-profit that helps families with one-time financial crisis assistance. It is funded solely through donations and grants and has no overhead costs. Tahoe Magic has been assisting families for almost 30 years. Responding to a referral from a partner agency, Tahoe Magic had helped Daniel within the last two years. As Daniel's health deteriorated, his heart led him to seek a way to pay back Tahoe Magic for the financial help he received for his urgent need. Daniel was incredulous that others would help someone they did not know. He reached out to a few people recently to reach out to Tahoe Magic because he had a plan.

Saturday he met with one of the board members of Tahoe Magic and handed back $1000, the exact amount that helped him in his time of need.

Daniel has no checkbook and no computer. He lives on Social Security. He was adamant, saying he wanted to do this before he left this world, to connect with the organization that showed him kindness and caring. Now, with gratitude and equal kindness, he has done the same. He saved enough money that he could give back what he was given. It was an honor to receive the funds from him with thanks.

Ten crisp $100 bills, damp with a few teardrops, will be added back into Tahoe Magic's fund, ready to help the next person in need. It will no doubt bring Daniel a smile. It will make his mom smile as well.

- Tahoe Magic
Tahoemagic.org